A re-examination of the mere exposure effect: The influence of repeated exposure on recognition, familiarity, and liking.
Abstract
To evaluate the veracity of models of the mere exposure effect and to understand the processes that moderate the effect, we conducted a meta-analysis of the influence of repeated exposure on liking, familiarity, recognition, among other evaluations. We estimated parameters from 268 curve estimates drawn from 81 articles and revealed that the mere exposure effect was characterized by a positive slope and negative quadratic effect consistent with an inverted-U shaped curve. In fact, such curves were associated with (a) all visual, but not auditory stimuli; (b) exposure durations shorter than 10 s and longer than 1 min; (c) both homogeneous and heterogeneous presentation types; and (d) ratings that were taken after all stimuli were presented. We conclude that existing models for the mere exposure effect do not adequately account for the findings, and we provide a framework to help guide future research. (PsycINFO Database Record
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A recent meta-analysis found a significant linear (and quadratic) ME effect at durations of <15 ms exposure.
“A recent meta-analysis found a significant linear (and quadratic) ME effect at durations of <15 ms exposure (Montoya et al. 2017).”
From Unawareness of Attitudes, Their Environmental Causes, and Their Behavioral Effects (2025) · cites this paper as Montoya et al. 2017
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Kliegr, T., Bahník, Š., & Fürnkranz, J. (2021) · Artificial Intelligence · doi:10.1016/j.artint.2021.103458 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
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Unawareness of Attitudes, Their Environmental Causes, and Their Behavioral Effects
Gawronski, B., & Corneille, O. (2025) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-051324-031037 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
- Authors
- Montoya, R. M., Horton, R. S., Vevea, J. L., Citkowicz, M., & Lauber, E. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Dayton (US)
- Wabash College (US)
- University of California, Merced (US)
- American Institutes for Research (US)
- University of Utah (US)
- Venue
- Psychological Bulletin
- Published
- 2017
- Volume
- 143
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 459-498
- ISSN
- 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1455
- OpenAlex
- W2594857191
- Cited by
- 389
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 50 · 2025: 71 · 2024: 52 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 51 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 73 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 15.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Murdoch University Research Portal (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Aesthetic Perception and Analysis
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Keywords
- mere exposure effect, repeated exposure, recognition, familiarity, liking, inverted-U curve, quadratic effects, exposure duration, presentation format
- MeSH terms
- Emotions, Humans, Recognition, Psychology
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